“The Sleeping Beauty”

Ballet in two acts

music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
choreography: Marius Petipa

Act 1
Scene 1

The Kingdom's family is celebrating  Princess Aurora’s birth.  The Kingdom’s Fairy of Protection, Lilac Fairy, and all of her maidens were invited to the celebration. The fairies present their gifts of beauty, grace, generosity, song, and temperament to Aurora. In the middle of the excitement, the royal family forgot to invite the wicked fairy, Carabosse. Although Carabosse is distraught by their neglect, she and her crew come to party anyway, but with evil intentions. She disguises herself as a beautiful fairy and pretends to enjoy the festivities. However, her evil becomes her and she casts a spell over Princess Aurora saying that on her 16th birthday she will prick her finger and die. Quick to save the Princess, the Lilac Fairy casts another spell saying that she will only fall asleep after pricking her finger. Once Carabosse leaves, the party is restored and everyone continues to celebrate.

Scene 2

Sixteen years later, the royal family begins to celebrate Princess Aurora’s 16th birthday. Since the night of her birth, the King had ordered that all sharp objects be kept out of the kingdom so she could not hurt herself. His rules were broken, however, on the night of her party. During the celebration, Carabosse disguises herself again, this time as a beautiful seamstress, and presents Princess Aurora with a beautiful tapestry.

Enchanted by its beauty, Princess Aurora grabs the tapestry and pricks her finger on a needle that Carabosse secretly embedded. Carabosse laughs in victory and runs out of the castle. Remembering the spell she had cast before, Lilac Fairy appears to make sure Princess Aurora fell asleep. Lilac Fairy casts a spell on the entire family and court to fall asleep ensuring them of their safety.

Act 2
Scene 1

One hundred years later in a dark forest, a Prince by the name of Desire is hunting with his friends.

He leaves his friends and insists on being alone. Lilac Fairy hears the commotion and ventures out to Prince Desire. She leads him to the castle to rescue the beautiful Princess and put an end to the evil fairy, Carabosse. Lilac Fairy reveals the hidden castle to Prince Desire. Just when Prince Desire steps into the castle doorway, Carabosse appears before him. She will not let him pass and a battle quickly follows. Prince Desire finally overpowers her and he races into the castle. Knowing the only way to break the spell, he quickly finds Princess Aurora and kisses her. Princess Aurora and her entire family wake up from their deep sleep. Princess Aurora accepts Prince Desire's proposal for marriage and her family approves.

Scene 2

The castle is filled with music and laughter as the family and maids clean the dusty old castle for the wedding. The wedding is attended by the Prince’s family. The Fairies return for the celebration along with the fairy tale characters of the Bluebird and Princess Florine, Puss in Boots and the White Cat. Finally Finally Desire and Princess Aurora are married and receive the blessing of the Lilac Fairy.